Shed antler find #40 for the 2013 shed hunting season turned out to be a dandy. At 77 inches this is the kind of shed that gets my attention. Very few mountain whitetail bucks ever reach 7pts a side let alone a 6×6 main frame. Very few in this region sport 25 inch main beams or better or carry more than 5 inches of mass through the first couple circumferences.
Anytime I find a mature buck shed like this, I’ve learned from experience that there is a pretty solid chance the buck dropped his head gear (bucks start shedding here around Christmas) well before the heavy snow levels of winter have ever forced them out of core living areas. It takes a good 18 inches of snow or more to force a big buck to vacate his stronghold. With that being said as with the majority of mature bucks from this big woods region, there is a good chance a shed antler find like this indicates where this deer feels real comfortable spending a lot of time. The prevailing winds, terrain, habitat will almost always play into the bucks favor as well. When I find a hawg buck shed and all of the rest of the equation adds up, there is a great chance his core area has been violated. Tread ing lightly now comes into future game planning.
Bigwoods deer, live void of destination feed and agriculture. These factors unlike his mid western cousins play no part in his survival and or determine shedding areas. Instead his living corridors are dictated by fear of viscous predators. Meanwhile he does have the luxury of ample native feeds, mostly browse species type plants that can be found for miles in all directions under a sea of timber all the while being infused with ample water souces. A healthy recipe in steep rugged country for one of North Americas greatest survival machines.
I often find big loner buck sheds in the types of places that may surprise a lot of hunters. Visions of beautiful southern slopes are not always the case; instead nasty thickly timbered northerns often hold an old recluses fallen crown. The kind of hideout a pressured big deer gravitates to after years of constant process of elimination, and where you’ll find me snooping around and then surveillanceing before and after green up.
My most recent 8 of 11 mountain buck bowkills, I have shed antlers from. All of which I have killed within 400 yards or less from where those shed pick ups took place. I’ve read and heard many times that shed finds are no indication of where you’ll find a big deer living come Fall, I beg to differ in bigwoods country. Shed find evidence (minus heavy early seasonal snow fall accumulation) goes a long ways in my preparation for each upcoming season.
